Speaking on a Bill to institute the new ‘Rural and Community
Development’ portfolio today, Deputy Tóibín said:

“This is the third manifestation of this Department in just
over a year. In May 2016, the Government announced the addition of the regional
and rural responsibilities to the existing Department of Arts, Heritage, and
the Gaeltacht. This was in the main a cosmetic exercise in that the necessary
powers or budgets were not transferred to the Department to allow it to do the
work which its title claimed it would do.

“This was extremely disappointing. There is
serious economic damage being done in this country. The chasm that
exists between parts of this island, economically, demographically and
socio-economically, is incredible.

“Unemployment is currently three times higher in the Border
regions than is the case in Dublin. In certain parts of the west,
broadband speeds are 36 times slower than in the centre of Dublin. The
north-west region is without a rail line or a motorway. Gaining
access to the north-west is very difficult for those in
business. IDA Ireland investment has mostly been concentrated in
Dublin and Cork.

“The other issue about which I am concerned in respect of
the Department is the fact that the word ‘Regional’ has been deleted from its
title. We know that the titles of Departments reflect their
priorities. If a particular objective is not set out in the title of
a Department, the opportunity of giving that objective priority is missed.

“The Government must consider the all-Ireland context in
which we live. In January 2016, I carried out a report on the
all-Ireland economy during which I interviewed around 100 organisations,
including the Confederation of British Industry, the unions and the Ulster
farmers. Everyone I spoke to felt that if we planned, funded and
delivered together, we would have more efficient and better services for
everyone on the island,

“I tabled an amendment to include ‘all-Ireland’ in the name
of the Department because we cannot continue to develop the island spatially on
a Twenty-six Counties or Six Counties basis. We must ensure all the Departments
are aligned.

“If the Minister does not use the name I suggested in my
amendment, some level of regional, rural and all-island development should be
included which would set out the new dispensation for this island in a radical
new way. It would be a signal that co-operation represents a major
opportunity to save money on the island while increasing services and
infrastructure.”